Lignin-Derived High-Performance Plastics Available for Licensing UT-Battelle, LLC, acting under its Prime Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the management and operation of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), is seeking a commercialization partner for a new method to produce Lignin-Derived High-Performance Plastics . The ORNL Technology Transfer Office will accept licensing applications through November 22, 2016. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a high-performance lignin-based thermoplastic that will be useful for industrial plastic resins and commercial materials. The thermoplastic product is an unmodified solvent-extracted melt-stable lignin combined with non-lignin thermoplastic polymer segments. By integrating networked lignin with its thermoplastic derivative, the method developed by the researchers has resulted in a product with the advantageous properties of both materials, including moldability, elasticity, ductility, strength, durability, and toughness. The sustainable product has unprecedented yield stress (15–45 MPa), strain hardens at large deformation, and has outstanding recyclability. By fine-tuning the components in the lignin formulations, molar ratios, and other variables, the ORNL researchers can adjust the final thermoplastic material’s characteristics to meet specific needs or purposes, such as tensile strength, tensile yield stress, elastic modulus, and elongation properties. The method is unique due to the ease of forming different kind of materials—elastomers, thermoplastics, and thermoplastic elastomers. More than 50% of the polymer composites is lignin, which further confirms the success of the method compared to other known processes. In addition, no chemical functionalization of lignin is required prior to melt-extrusion-based processing. The team also developed a composite fabrication protocol using lignin-based resin as the matrix. This technology was originally developed using federal funds and selected for further development under the laboratory's Technology Innovation Program (TIP). TIP supports technology development using royalties from existing technology licenses to accelerate the market readiness of high potential technologies. License applications will be evaluated based on prospective partners' ability and commitment to successfully commercialize the technology. If a license is executed, the ORNL researchers developing the technology will be eligible to compete for additional TIP funding to further advance the technology. Additional background and technical information may be found on the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Technology Transfer website ( https://www.ornl.gov/partnerships/licensing-opportunity-announcements ). Please contact Nestor Franco, Commercialization Manager, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 865-574-0534 ,
[email protected] with any questions and to obtain a license application for this opportunity. Intellectual Property UTB ID 201403426, High-Performance Lignin-Acrylonitrile Polymer Blend Materials, U.S. Patent App. 14/798,729.